In this week's Action Update, we'll be covering a wide range of
issues. Despite the worldwide pandemic, from Washington to Baghdad,
Israel's detractors and America's enemies have not changed their
stripes. The threats are still there, and it is vital we address them.

Member Spotlight: Rep. Ilhan Omar

To even the casual political observer, Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-MN)
bombastic record is perplexing. Americans eschew bigotry, yet Omar has
put her anti-Semitism on full display. In fact, her invocation of old
anti-Semitic tropes concerning Jewish power and money led her to receive
praise from former Ku Klux Klan "Grand Wizard" David Duke.

Mind you, she doesn't just talk the talk, she walks the walk. Omar was
one of just 17 House members who voted against a resolution opposing the
anti-Semitic BDS movement. And she even went so far as to introduce a
resolution defending boycotts of Israel by comparing boycotts of the
Jewish state to boycotts of Nazi Germany.

Omar's jaw-dropping approach to policy doesn't end with her disdain
for the Jewish people. For example, back when she was just a State
Representative, Omar met with the radical Islamist President of Turkey,
Recep Tayip Erodgan. And again, backing her words up with actions, once
she got to Congress she joined just 15 of her colleagues in opposing the

**Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act** (HR 4695).

Meet the Challengers

Omar's relatively unique approach to policy has drawn a fair amount of
opposition. And presently, both parties have strong contenders seeking
to unseat her. Omar's leading Democratic primary challenger is

**Aontone Melton-Meaux**. He's a lawyer who worked for St. Jude
Medical and started his own mediation practice.

On Israel, Melton-Meaux wrote, "It is vital to the national interests
of both Israel and the United States that our two countries continue to
be collaborative allies." In addition, he's expressed opposition to
the aforementioned anti-Semitic BDS movement and backs sanctions against
Iran.

Speaking directly about his infamous opponent Melton-Meaux wrote,
"Omar has repeatedly made divisive statements that have been hurtful
to members of our Jewish community. She creates distraction and drama,
not results. That doesn't work for us."

On the Republican side, the leading candidate is

**Dalia al-Aqidi**. She's an Iraqi-born immigrant who has worked as a
correspondent for Voice of America and worked with the Multi-National
Security Transition Command in Baghdad to help develop media in that
country.

On the issues, she's expressed opposition to BDS and has expressed
support for sanctions on Iran.

Regarding Rep. Omar, she said in a January interview, "We don't know
what's in someone's heart. We can only tell what they say and how
they behave. And, of course, nearly everything [Omar] says about Israel
or American Jews who support Israel is laced with contempt, hatred and
anti-Semitism."

Quick note: We're not endorsing anyone - just reporting the facts.

Iron Dome in Iraq

Earlier this month, Representatives Grace Meng and Joe Wilson led a
bipartisan House letter requesting the Defense Department provide a
"deployment plan" for the first two Iron Dome batteries to be
deployed in Iraq, an update on efforts to integrate the missile defense
system with US Army systems, and ideas for more rapid integration of
Iron Dome to protect US troops.

This issue has been closely monitored by the CUFI Action Fund, and
we've been in direct communications with the leaders in this matter.
The Action Fund feels strongly that our troops need to be protected from
Iran and its proxies, and the best way to do that in the context of
missile defense is to rapidly deploy the Israeli-made Iron Dome
batteries at key locations in Iraq.

As the letter, which was signed by members of the House Armed Services,
Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security Committees noted, "A series of
rocket attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in just the last month
indicate that state-supported militias can increasingly overcome or
avoid current U.S. air defense systems... If we do not address this
threat now, we fear the consequences will be even more severe."

The Action Fund will continue to monitor the effort to see our troops
fully protected and lend our voice to these efforts.

CUFI Virtual Summit

As you likely know, CUFI recently announced that it will be holding its
2020 Summit virtually. This decision was made after the Washington
Convention Center notified CUFI that the Center is being turned into a
hospital in order to address potential needs associated with the
COVID-19 pandemic.

In the press release announcing CUFI's decision, the organization's
founder and Chairman Pastor John Hagee noted, "We have said from the
very beginning of this pandemic that the safety and well-being of our
members, staff, and the community at large is our top priority. By
holding our summit virtually, we will ensure the health and safety of
all participants, and still ensure our members hear directly from top
leaders and experts on the issues that matter to CUFI."

Also in the announcement, CUFI's Co-Executive Director added, "In
the coming days we'll be releasing the schedule of our virtual Summit,
concluding, as always, with a digital advocacy effort aimed at advancing
specific pro-Israel policies."

CUFI is committed to adapting to the present circumstances while
ensuring the collective voice of our organization's 8 million members
are heard by elected officials. As Action Fund supporters, we hope
you'll join CUFI for its virtual Summit and will keep an eye out for
CUFI's June 30th Action Alert through which you'll be able to
communicate with Members of Congress about the issues that matter to
America's Christian Zionist community.

In the meantime, we'll keep you updated on the Summit's details as
they are announced, and will ensure that Action Update readers remain
informed about what's going on in Washington, Jerusalem and throughout
the Middle East.

Sincerely,CUFI Action Fund Team

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